Tarxien to play Mosta after shoot-out win

Mosta 4
Senglea Athletics 1

A brace by substitute Philip Camilleri earned Mosta a place in the final of the Division One Knock-Out after an entertaining encounter at the Hibs Ground.

Senglea will feel hard-done by the final scoreline as they seemed on a par with their opponents, but in football it's the number of goals scored that count as Mosta produced the goods to ease through to the final.

Senglea made the early running and should have taken the lead after only six minutes. Darren Grech's throughball released Chima Dozie who despite being in ample space opted to pass the ball to Glenn Bonello who was blocked by the recovering Mosta defender Steve Borg.

At the other end Ryan Deguara's long-range shot missed the target by a whisker. Then on 21 minutes Daniel Theuma missed a sitter for Mosta when he drove the ball over from a few metres out.

Senglea's resistance was finally broken nine minutes from the break when Borg's throughball released Anthony Ewurum and the Nigerian slotted the ball past goalkeeper George Attard.

In the second half, Senglea came out lively and on 50 minutes Dozie headed the ball into the path of substitute Clint Caruana, whose first-time effort flashed just wide.

Mosta then withdrew Bryan Agius, despite playing a good match on the right flank, and was replaced by Philip Camilleri. Senglea profited immediately from Agius' absence as on 62 minutes Bonello found space on the right before dashing in the area and fired the ball home.

Camilleri soon left his mark on the match as on 64 minutes he curled the ball past Attard from a free-kick.

Mosta goalkeeper Joshua Galea then saved his team with a fine save on Daniel Cosaitis's firm drive.

That block proved crucial as on 72 minutes Ewurum picked Camilleri in the area who easily slotted the ball home.

Senglea's woes were further compounded on 77 minutes when Lawrence Attard was sent off after handling the ball in an attempt to block Ewurum who was through on goal.

Mosta were in total control now and they wrapped up victory with a fourth goal in stoppage time when Deguara beat three opponents before shooting the ball into the net.

Mosta: J. Galea, M. Abela, B. Agius (Ph. Camilleri), S. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli (L. Cilia), R. Deguara, A. Ewurum, M. Farrugia, C. Sciberras (M. Borg), D. Theuma.

Senglea Athletics: G. Attard; L. Attard, M. Borg, D. Cosaitis, T. Ghirxi (C. Caruana), D. Grech (J. Gatt), F. Ellul, S. Sciberras (T.Thomas), C. Dozie, F. Dingli, G. Bonello

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Man of the Match: Philip Camilleri (Mosta).

St Patrick 1
Tarxien Rainbows 1
(aet; Tarxien win 5-4 on pens.)

Tarxien Rainbows will contest the final of the First Division Knock-Out after they edged past St Patrick in a balanced match that was settled after a penalty shoot-out.

The Rainbows will now go on to face Mosta in Thursday's final which will be played at the Hibs Ground (kick-off: 5.15 p.m.).

St Patrick made all the early running and after only three minutes Kenneth Abela's header finished wide.

Tarxien responded three minutes later when a Manuel Caruana drive, was parried away by David Cassar.

After such an early flurry, the game died down with both sides cancelling each other in midfield.

The scarce crowd present had to wait until the 26th minute to witness a goalscoring opportunity when Tarxien goalkeeper Sean Cini did well to keep out Abela's header.

This was St Patrick's best patch of the match and ten minutes from half-time they forged ahead.

Jonathan Francica floored Abela in the area and from the resultant penalty Robert Cassar made no mistake to put the Saints ahead.

Bobby Giorev's side sensed that they could build on their advantage but Fleri Soler's long range shot was well saved by Cini.

Three minutes before the break, Simon Shead came close for Tarxien but his shot just missed the target.

A minute later Tarxien were unlucky not to equalise when an Alan Tabone piledriver hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

On resumption, Tarxien looked more aggressive but the first chance fell to St Patrick when on 55 minutes a Gordon Failla free-kick was palmed away by Cini.

Tarxien upped the tempo and they finally restored parity on 70 minutes when Ryan Darmanin found Shead who beat Cassar with a low shot.

Tarxien were on song now and Cassar did well to keep out Tabone's shot on 82 minutes.

Despite some last ditch efforts both sides could not score in normal time and extra time had to be played.

In the first 15 minutes of extra time it was the Saints who threatened first but Coleiro's drive finished high and wide.

Tarxien responded with a Tabone shot which looked dangerous but was cleared away by Fleri Soler and then Abela's drive was blocked by the Tarxien rearguard.

There were no more goalscoring chances in the second half and penalties were needed to declare a winner.

Tarxien were perfect as they scored all of their five shots from 11-metres through Tabone, Darmanin, Shead, Maczerob Okoro and Paul Camilleri.

St Patrick managed just four through Simon Zerafa, Failla, Abela and Robert Cassar with Kurt Coleiro missing the vital penalty when his shot was blocked by Cini.

St Patrick: D. Cassar, R. Cassar, M. Zerafa, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa, G. Failla, S. Brazilino (K. Coleiro), S. Magro (K. Micallef), C. Micallef (S. Dimech), E. Saliba, K. Abela.

Tarxien: S. Cini, C. Sadowski, M. Caruana, M. Micallef, J. Francica, S. Farrugia (E. Cutajar), S. Shead, A. Tabone, P. Camilleri, M. Okoro, R. Darmanin.

Referee: Clayton Pisani

Man of the match: Alan Tabone (Tarxien Rainbows).